Creation Keepers: Caring for Our Waterways
May 21, 2026
This Is Us!
May 27, 2026
A Celebration of Freedom at St. John’s Cathedral
HOW WE LOVE
Saturday, June 13
5 p.m.
This year’s theme, How We Love, invites us to reflect on the power of love in shaping justice, healing, and hope. The evening will feature music by the Jacksonville Gospel Chorale and several guests who are dedicated to preserving the rich tradition of African American sacred choral music and fostering unity through song.
The Very Rev. Kate Moorehead Carroll will serve as the keynote speaker, offering reflections on faith, community, and our shared call to justice. Come celebrate with music, inspiration, and fellowship.
About the Jacksonville Gospel Chorale
The Jacksonville Gospel Chorale is a dynamic ensemble of approximately 25 singers from the Jacksonville, Florida area, dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich tradition of African American sacred choral music. Under the leadership of founder and director Cedric Williams, the Chorale emerged from spiritually moving performances hosted by the United Black Episcopalians (UBE) at St. John’s Cathedral and has grown into a formal ensemble with a strong mission and expanding presence.
More than a musical group, the Chorale functions as a ministry committed to uplifting the soul, uniting community, and drawing people closer to God through gospel music. Its work honors African American heritage while promoting healing, unity, and spiritual reflection within the church and broader community. The ensemble’s mission extends beyond performance, seeking to create harmony in song, spirit, and fellowship.
Our Guests
Dr. Raymond Wise, Guest Clinician
Raymond Wise, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the African American Arts Institute and Professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, he is an internationally recognized singer, pianist, composer, conductor, and scholar of African American gospel music. His music is published by major publishers, and his Anthology of 21 Spirituals for the 21st Century has received national and international acclaim.
Dr. Wise earned degrees from Denison University and The Ohio State University, where he completed his doctorate in Music Education with a focus on the history and development of African American gospel music. He conducts the African American Choral Ensemble at Indiana University, which was featured in the Emmy- and Telly Award-winning PBS documentary Amen: Music of the Black Church. An ordained minister and church musician for more than 45 years, Dr. Wise is widely respected for his leadership in gospel and choral music education, authentic performance practice, and sacred music ministry.
Dr. Barbara McNeely-Bouie, Assistant Director
Dr. Barbara McNeely-Bouie is a distinguished educator, choral director, and worship leader whose career has spanned higher education, church music, and public schools. She most recently served as Director of Choral Activities at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida, and currently teaches choral music at Sandalwood High School in Duval County.
Widely respected within the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dr. Bouie currently serves as Worship Director for the Connectional Music and Christian Arts Ministry and Director of MCAM at Greater Grant Memorial AME Church in Jacksonville. A sought-after clinician and consultant, she is the author of Great Is Thy Faithfulness, a collection of worship resources and liturgies. She earned degrees from Spelman College, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and the Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies, where her doctoral work focused on spiritual formation through choral music.
Dr. Herbert Jones, Guest Director
Dr. Herbert V.R.P. Jones is a nationally recognized choral conductor, educator, performer, and scholar specializing in the intersection of theology and musical expression. He has taught and performed throughout the United States and Europe and has served in leadership roles at schools, universities, churches, and arts organizations nationwide.
Dr. Jones holds advanced degrees in music, divinity, counseling psychology, choral conducting, and ethnomusicology. He has earned numerous honors throughout his academic career. He has taught in public and private schools and universities across Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and North Dakota.
A leading authority on the music of Moses Hogan, Dr. Jones authored the definitive dissertation on Hogan’s musical contributions, later used as a primary resource for a PBS documentary on the composer’s life and legacy. In addition to his work in choral music, he has performed in opera, theater, and dance, and continues to conduct workshops, festivals, and guest appearances nationally and abroad.
Henry L. Parker, Accompanist
The Rev. Henry L. Parker has over 15 years of service in education as Chair of Fine and Performing Arts and Director of Choral Activities at various educational institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and Composition from Eastern Kentucky University, a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and completed doctoral studies in worship at the Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies.
Parker’s educational journey has strengthened his ability to teach music in both academic and church settings. His collaborations with artists such as Aretha Franklin and Marvin L. Winans, along with his work as a published composer, underscore his experience and expertise in the music industry.
Ann Marie McPhail, Guest Soloist
Ann Marie McPhail is an Atlanta native and versatile lyric soprano with degrees from Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University. She is currently pursuing a DMA in Voice Performance at The University of Southern Mississippi. Her career highlights include performances with the Atlanta Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as appearances in For Colored Girls and the 1996 Olympic Closing Ceremonies. A prizewinner in several vocal competitions, Ms. McPhail is also recognized for her moving interpretations of the Negro spiritual.
